Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

The Florida State Legislature is nearing a close for the 2009 regular session with issues such as construction-industry deregulation, gutting wetland protection, animal husbandry and new sales tax exemptions for luxury items such as boats and planes while the state budget only escapes a larger deficit and deeper cuts by way of the US economic stimulus plan.

 Loading ...

Oh, yes, the budget seems to be all but done with more and more cuts and tax-increase avoidance (well, if you don’t smoke that is), but what exactly are the priorities of the Florida state legislature? Is avoiding-tax-increases-at-all-costs the way to secure the state’s fiscal long term health? Stunting education again to make up for shortfalls?

Color me biased, but I subscribe to Howard Troxler’s school of thought regarding the legislature: It’s not a few rotten apples, it’s the entire barrel. And while my list of links at the beginning of this post makes up only a small percentage of legislation during this legislative session, it’s the fact that priorities like these are the norm (while the government continues to cut-cut-cut on education and other servicers that effect a far broader segment of the population), year after year… That’s the problem.

UPDATED: April 22, 2009: Sweeping voter restrictions, off-shore drilling expansion to help make up for budget shortfalls… Both bills forced through committee in these waning days of the session with little debate…